GERD Will Drive Products Competitiveness in European Market: German Acting Ambassador

Addis Ababa, October 31, 2025 (ENA) –The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) along with other renewable energy sources would significantly boost the competitiveness of Ethiopian industrial products and access the European market, Acting Ambassador of Germany to Ethiopia, Ferdinand von Weyhe, told ENA.

Speaking to ENA, the acting ambassador emphasized the implications of renewable energy initiatives of Ethiopia particularly of GERD.

GERD is the largest hydropower project ever constructed in Africa, poised to double the national clean electricity production that would leverage industrial growth in the country.

Weyhe commended Ethiopia for its impressive progress in advancing and expanding renewable energy, emphasizing the countless importance of renewable energy, including hydropower, wind, geothermal, and solar energy.

The opportunities for renewable energy in Ethiopia are substantial, he said adding GERD along with many dams being constructed will make the country hub in clean energy.

Green energy is crucial for manufacturing industries to produce products which are more competitive in the European market, Weyhe stressed.

Industries that utilize hydroelectric power will produce greener products, which are increasingly favored by consumers and businesses in Europe, he noted.

"We have learned vast opportunities in renewable energy in Ethiopia. GERD with other numerous dams under construction will significantly boost the production of green electricity.

And, by utilizing hydropower to produce electricity, Ethiopian products will become increasingly competitive in the European market, “Weyhe underscored.

Relating to Ethiopia’s quest for securing sea access to the Red Sea, Weyhe emphasized the critical need for diversifying access to the sea and fostering economic partnerships with neighboring countries.

Citing an instance form European experience, Weyhe said that many landlocked nations successfully collaborate with coastal countries for trade.

"Germany, for instance, has ports, but not all goods flow through them; some are routed via Belgian or Dutch ports,'' he pointed out.

This underscores the importance of diversifying access to the sea and fostering cooperation with neighboring countries to enhance freight logistics and facilitate trade for Ethiopia," he elaborated.